by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Special report
Astrologers chose Kovind's swearing-in Timing
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, July 24
It is well known that astrologers play a key role in the lives of politicians. It is also too well known that prime ministers religiously follow the advice of astrologers when they chose timing of their swearing-in-ceremonies. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took full ten days before taking oath after winning the polls on May 16, 2014.
But Presidents do not have this luxury as the date of taking oath is sacrosanct, July 25 every five years. They need not take any such advice in such matters as everything is virtually pre-decided. The out-going Presidents retire on July 24 and the new President takes oath the next day at the Central Hall of Parliament. The swearing-in-ceremonies of Presidents in the past have been held in the forenoon only on July 25.
It has been held between 10 am to 12 pm in the past during the past two decades. But President-elect Ram Nath Kovind has decided to take oath at 12.15 pm tomorrow.
Earlier, it was signaled that the swearing-in-ceremony will be held at 10.15 am tomorrow. Now it transpires that timing was changed, perhaps at the instance of the astrologers. It was said that the Abhijeet Nakshtra begins after 12.14 pm. The most auspicious time will be 12.15 pm. According to senior BJP MP Prabhat Jha, this is the most auspicious time as Lord Rama was born in the Abhijit Nakshtra.
It is learnt that changes have been made in the program and the two houses of Parliament will meet first at 11 am and then adjourn at 11.30 pm so that M.P.s move towards the Central Hall. The ceremony is likely to last for about 30 minutes and thereafter, Kovind will accompany the out-going President Pranab Mukherjee to his new residence, 10 Rajaji Marg. Union Finance & Defence Minister Arun Jaitley will then accompany the President, Ram Nath Kovind to the Rashtrapati Bhawan from 10 Rajaji Marg.
Kovind who is presently residing at 10 Akbar Road, will leave for the Rashtrapati Bhawan and will come to the Parliament House for swearing-in-ceremony along with Pranab Mukherjee.
